After a Gaines Charter Township farmer was cited under the town’s sign ordinance for placing large signs on his property that are critical of socialism and President Barack Obama, the ACLU of Michigan filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the farmer in March 2013.
The ACLU argued that the signs, which read “Marxism/Socialism = Poverty & Hunger,” and “Obama’s ‘Mission Accomplished’ 8% Unemployment 16 Trillion Debt,” were core political speech protected by the First Amendment, and that the township could not allow large commercial signs while banning large political signs. The court agreed and dismissed the citation in April 2013.
(Gaines Township v. Verduin; ACLU Attorney Miriam Aukerman and Law Student Intern Michael El-Zein.)
To view the full 2013-2014 Legal Docket, click here.